Oh Baby: Color my dresser

I'm officially in my 8th month of pregnancy now and I still have a lot to do before I'll feel even reasonably ready for this duo to become a trio. Since I'm anticipating being a lot more uncomfortable come next month, I'm trying to get all the big stuff out of the way in November. So if you are reading this, get ready for baby overload this month (along with a little early Christmas features since I'm trying to get ready for the holidays at the same time)

After much searching we found a suitable used dresser to serve as bebe's changing table. It needs a bit of paint to clean it up but I'm torn on what I want it to look like. I'm waiting for my window treatments to come in before I finalize the exact paint color but in the meantime, here are some options on how to paint it.

Excuse my lazy photo shopping above but I think you get the idea: all white, all coral, coral base with white top or white base with coral drawers. What do you think?

71 comments:

I vote coral, but then again, it depends how the rest of the room is coming together. Great chest! ps I have an 8 month old at home, so the memories of being 8 months prego are all too clear =) I hope it's been a good one for you!

I think I'm digging either all coral or white with coral drawers, but whatever you do your dressers always come out fabulous! Also just got my new YHL book over the weekend and loved seeing your other famous dresser - the turquoise and gold map!! Such a nice surprise to see so many of my favorite bloggers making a cameo in their book!

I may have missed this - but have you had/plan to have a baby shower? You always through such gorgeous parties - I would love to see what you would do for yourself when it comes to a baby shower! (or is that faux pas to throw your own? I threw my own bridal shower and threw etiquette to the wind because I was too excited to plan it!)

Having now had five little babies, I vote AGAINST the white top for the sake of ...errrrr....staining!! ;-) You have to think practically as well as prettily! Plus I think the coral looks gorgeous too!

Hmm, all coral - maybe, all white - no, coral with white top - no, white base with coral drawers - yes. Just like how the last one feels. What are the sides of the dresser like? Perhaps some of your stencil magic might work to provide some additional color if it feels like too much white. or if there's an inset make it coral too? A stencil could be done after the baby is born since the timeline is tight. Maybe a book character like Madeline or just an open book of a favorite bedtime story? One other thought, is to ombre it like you've wanted to. Here's an example with corals. http://kidcrave.com/scoop/diy-ombre-dresser/

I love the coral! We did something similar for my daughter's change table in a robin's egg blue (glossy), I spray painted the handles bright orange. It is one of my favorite pieces in our whole house. A crumby old dresser with a new life...literally. Just make sure you seal the top or use a very glossy paint. You will want to be able to wash it off occasionally.

Loving the white with coral drawers, but agree stains would be an issue. How about the opposite - coral with white drawers? Your furniture painting skill is awesome and this is a good way to show it off.Lois

Eight months already - baby is just a few weeks away!!! I like the white dresser with coral drawer fronts. It seems a little more fun to me, a little bit more whimsical than the other combinations. Beautiful dresser. I like the details and the handles.

I'm not worried about staining really. A semi gloss paint is very easy to clean plus it can always be touched up. Im sure there will be plenty more staining with baby but its really quite hard to mess up painted furniture :)

Hmmm, didn't know about the curtains. will rug have a pattern or color? I'm assuming you'll also have a chair in the room. color? If so, stick to white. It will keep the room bright and there's plenty of other color throughout, espec if space is small. good luck!

The only one I don't love is the white with coral drawers, but the other three are gorgeous. If I had to pick ONE, I'd say the all coral is my favorite because it pops against both the wall and the floor/carpet. :)

I like white with coral drawers but would vote for a shine rather than shabby finish. I also vote for a coral closer to the curtains. This one shows up on my screen a bit red but that could just be my monitor. Can't wait for your baby shower photos.

I really like the white with coral drawers. I don't think your (very understandably) rushed photoshop job does the option justice--I really think it would look beautiful. Plus, I'm a sucker for contrasting drawers.

What are you planning to do with the drawer pulls? I think they'd look really nice if you spray painted them white (or have your husband do it because you're pregnant!). I could also see replacing them with some pretty crystal pulls or, if you want to put in more work to reposition the holes, knobs that have a coral/navy motif. Anthropologie has a couple that are close to coral/navy, but it's so hard to tell exact colors online.

Based on the photos, it looks like the white makes a nicer contrast with the floors than the coral. If that's the case in real life, then my vote is for white with coral drawers. It's looking great. I love that rug!

I would say leave it with the coral drawers and white top. A nice glossy white top will really pop in the room and look great with the coral. Can't wait for tons more baby stuff! I don't think there has been enough! ;)

I like all coral or all white, personally. And no worries on the baby overload! I feel like I'm watching a parallel life on your blog (my husband and I are professionals in our thirties in Chicagoland, love to travel and we're thinking about starting a family) so you are an inspiration and a help :-)

I like either all coral or coral with white top. I definitely don't like the white with coral drawers -for some reason that seems visually confusing. I'm sure it will look beautiful in the end! What a lucky little girl :)

I like Option 1 best and Option 4 least. My son's dresser/changing table seems to be bigger than yours and with the changing pad/basket for diapers & wipes you can hardly see the top anyway. I agree with you on staining not being an issue though, I painted mine white and he's 16 months old now and a quick wipe down has all that's been needed to clean up anything.

all coral for sure. what is your changng pad color? think about that before you decide...a solid, a print? Enjoy this last month! My pregnancy and labor were wonderful (I mean it!) and even if yours does turn out to be 'laborious', it will be over before you know it and so worth the wait and the work. My baby just turned 21! Cherish every moment! Bless you, and that baby!

I vote all coral! it looks gorgeous against those beautiful dark walls plus it tones everything else down too. I think mixing colors on the dresser, plus the pattern on the rug and the curtains and whatever else you are going to use on the actual crib might be too much. I say keep the dresser all one color...

Paint, and this big element of the nursery are one way to get that exact shade of coral that you are looking for. (that's so hard to find!) Your textiles and artwork can vary slightly, and this big furniture piece being the exact right color will tie it all together.

Lazy photoshop? Looks pretty amazing to me. I vote for the white with coral drawer fronts (or all white with coral inside the drawers). Whatever you choose and accomplish between now and baby will be so lovely and chic!

I would also add that I change the baby on our bed and we haven't had a staining issue yet. None of our furniture has gotten stained in 5 years of baby and kid dom (clothing, OTOH ...) Put down a changing pad if you're worried about it!

I have to say that i like the all white and I'll tell you why. Colors evoke emotion and I would want a calm. soothing place for changing my baby's diaper. They get awfully wiggly as they get older. Also, you spend SO MUCH time in there sleepy and stressed in the middle of the night. You want a simple place to rest your eyes. And I know you'll have fun color in other spots too.

I like the all coral. The white would contrast a lot against the dark walls, and coral against navy will already be advancing because of the contrast there, so it could be a little too much contrast in one spot. Side note - I used that same fabric on some chairs and found that BM Tucson Coral (005) looks great. I saw it in BH&G. It's in the fan deck but wasn't in the paper samples at the store I went to. It might be too orange for what you're looking at, but it's worth a try!